Excellent team performance secures Munster camogie title for Tipperary club

Brian Borus 2-8 Youghal 1-5

Leading 2-5 to 1-5 at half- time, Brian Borus held their Cork counterparts scoreless in the second half, while adding three points of their own, to claim the Munster Mai O’Connell Junior A camogie title to the delight of their home support in Ballyporeen.

Youghal opened the scoring inside the first minute when Sam Swaine pointed a free. Jenny Doyle then extended their lead with a long-range placed ball.

Brian Borus settled soon afterwards, with Mary Barrett getting the Tipperary side off the mark from a free after five minutes. Doyle again showed her accuracy from a placed ball before Brian Borus registered their first score from play— Caoimhe Ryan finishing after a well-timed pass from Ashling Ryan.

As the half progressed, Brian Borus grew more and more into the contest. The pace and direct running of Shona Lang began to stretch the Youghal defence and create opportunities. She set up Caoimhe Ryan for a goal chance that was brilliantly saved, but Alanna English reacted quickest to scoop the rebound over the line for the first goal of the game, pushing the Tipp Junior A champions ahead by 1-2 to 0-3.

READ NEXT: Sensory grotto at Tipperary arts centre

Mary Barrett and Sam Swaine traded frees before Youghal struck for their goal in the 23rd minute. A Doyle free dropped dangerously into the square and corner forward Shauna O’Connell reacted fastest, pulling first-time to the net to level the game.

Brian Borus responded superbly, with two Barrett frees edging them back in front. Another Doyle free brought Youghal level at 1-5 apiece as half-time approached, but there was still drama to come.

READ NEXT: Talented Tipperary entrepreneurs will display their products at Christmas market

With almost two minutes of injury time played Shona Lang won possession, drove at her marker and finished low into the bottom right corner of the net — an excellent solo goal that sent Brian Borus in at the break with a three-point cushion, 2-5 to 1-5.

After a lively and evenly balanced first half, scores proved much harder to come by in the second half. Isobel O’Donnell pointed for Brian Borus just a minute after the restart, but then followed a ten-minute scoreless spell before Mary Barrett landed another free.

Seven minutes later Barrett struck again—her sixth point of the day and the game’s final score—this time from a ‘45.

After the final whistle, joint captains Ava Caplice and Mary Barrett accepted the cup, while Shona Lang was deservedly named Player of the Match.

This was an excellent overall team performance from Brian Borus. Lang’s goal on the stroke of half-time proved crucial, giving them a valuable cushion for a more defensive second half display.

Their game management after the break was superb, with immense workrate in defence from Rosaleen O’Gorman, Shauna Maher and Alison O’Mahony. Helena Walsh worked tirelessly in midfield while all six forwards looked dangerous throughout, continually winning frees that Mary Barrett converted with composure.

Brian Borus: Kacey Meehan, Ellie O’Connor, Caitlin O’Gorman, Rosaleen O’Gorman, Shauna Maher, Alison O’Mahony, Helen Burke, Anna French, Helena Walsh, Mary Barrett (0-6 frees), Caoimhe Ryan (0-1), Aisling Ryan, Shona Lang (1-0), Alanna English (1-0), Isobel O’Donnell (0-1).